How a cadi was infatuated with the wife of Júhí and remained (hidden) in a chest, and how the cadi's deputy purchased the chest; and how next year (when) Júhí's wife came again, hoping to play the same trick (which had succeeded) last year, the cadi said (to her), “Set me free and seek some one else”; and so on to the end of the story.

جوحی هر سالی ز درویشی به فن ** رو بزن کردی کای دلخواه زن

Every year, on account of poverty, Júhí would artfully turn to his wife and say, “O sweetheart,

چون سلاحت هست رو صیدی بگیر ** تا بدوشانیم از صید تو شیر 4450

Since thou hast the weapons, go, catch some game in order that we may get milk (profit) from thy prey.

قوس ابرو تیر غمزه دام کید ** بهر چه دادت خدا از بهر صید

Wherefore has God given thee the bow of thine eyebrow, the arrow of thy amorous glance, and the snare of thy craftiness? For hunting.

رو پی مرغی شگرفی دام نه ** دانه بنما لیک در خوردش مده

Go, lay the snare for a big bird: show the bait, but do not let him eat it.

کام بنما و کن او را تلخ‌کام ** کی خورد دانه چو شد در حبس دام

Show him his wish, but disappoint him: how can he eat the bait when he is imprisoned in the snare?”

شد زن او نزد قاضی در گله ** که مرا افغان ز شوی ده‌دله

His wife went to the cadi to complain, saying, “I appeal (to thee) for help against my faithless husband.”

قصه کوته کن که قاضی شد شکار ** از مقال و از جمال آن نگار 4455

(To) cut the tale short, the cadi fell a prey to the (pleading) words and beauty of the fair woman.

گفت اندر محکمه‌ست این غلغله ** من نتوانم فهم کردن این گله

He said, “There is such a noise in the court of justice (that) I cannot understand this complaint;

گر به خلوت آیی ای سرو سهی ** از ستم‌کاری شو شرحم دهی

(But) if you will come to my private house, O cypress-slender one, and describe to me the injurious behaviour of your husband”—

گفت خانه‌ی تو ز هر نیک و بدی ** باشد از بهر گله آمد شدی

“In thy house,” she replied, “there will be a (constant) coming and going of every sort of people, good and bad, for the purpose of making complaints.”

خانه‌ی سر جمله پر سودا بود ** صدر پر وسواس و پر غوغا بود

(If) the house of the head be wholly filled with a mad passion, the breast will be full of anxiety and commotion.

باقی اعضا ز فکر آسوده‌اند ** وآن صدور از صادران فرسوده‌اند 4460

The rest of the (bodily) members are undisturbed by thinking, while those breasts are consumed by thoughts that return.

در خزان و باد خوف حق گریز ** آن شقایق‌های پارین را بریز

Take refuge in the autumn gale of fear of God: let last year's flowers be shed;

این شقایق منع نو اشکوفه‌هاست ** که درخت دل برای آن نماست

(For) these flowers prevent the new buds (from blossoming), and it is (only) for the sake of their growth that the tree of the heart exists.

خویش را در خواب کن زین افتکار ** سر ز زیر خواب در یقظت بر آر

Put thyself to sleep (and escape) from this (vain) thinking: (then) lift up thy head from sleep into (spiritual) wakefulness.

هم‌چو آن اصحاب کهف ای خواجه زود ** رو به ایقاظا که تحسبهم رقود

Like the Men of the Cave (the Seven Sleepers), pass quickly, O Khwája, into (the state of those who are) awake, though thou wouldst deem them asleep.

گفت قاضی ای صنم معمول چیست ** گفت خانه‌ی این کنیزک بس تهیست 4465

“O adorable one,” said the cadi, “what can be contrived?” She answered, “This (thy) handmaid's house is quite empty.

خصم در ده رفت و حارس نیز نیست ** بهر خلوت سخت نیکو مسکنیست

The enemy has gone into the country, and the caretaker is not there either: it is a very good place for meeting in private.

امشب ار امکان بود آنجا بیا ** کار شب بی سمعه است و بی‌ریا

Come there to-night if possible: what one does by night is (done) without (the intention of) making (people) hear of it or see it;

جمله جاسوسان ز خمر خواب مست ** زنگی شب جمله را گردن زدست

(At that time) all the spies are intoxicated with the wine of sleep: all have been beheaded (and left as though lifeless) by the negro, Night.”

خواند بر قاضی فسون‌های عجب ** آن شکرلب وانگهانی از چه لب

The sugar-lipped (damsel) chanted wondrous spells over the cadi—and then with what (bewitching) lips!

چند با آدم بلیس افسانه کرد ** چون حوا گفتش بخور آنگاه خورد 4470

How often did Iblís palaver with Adam!—but when Eve told him to eat, then (and not till then) did he eat.

اولین خون در جهان ظلم و داد ** از کف قابیل بهر زن فتاد

The first blood (shed) in this world of iniquity and justice was shed by Qábíl (Cain) for the sake of a woman.

نوح چون بر تابه بریان ساختی ** واهله بر تابه سنگ انداختی

Whenever Noah was frying meat in the frying-pan, Wáhila (his wife) would throw stones at the frying-pan,